Kyoto, Japan | November 19-22, 2026
Japan's Borders in Globalization, the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), and Kyoto University are seeking applications for research sessions on Japan's border heritage as part of the international conference "Shared Heritage? Transcending Insularity in Japan and the World."
The Border Heritage Sessions support groundbreaking work on borders and mobility in Japan, with a focus on developing research by the next generation of border scholars. All participants receive feedback, mentorship, and support to develop papers into impactful academic articles for publication in a special journal issue.
We welcome proposals on:
Territory, insularity, and borders
Sovereignty, nation-state relations, and contemporary political economy
Technology in border surveillance and governance
Environmental factors and natural disasters on borders and mobility
Security discourse and practice
Comparative studies on Japan's borders in regional context
Travel grants available
Competitive travel grants cover conference participation, travel, accommodation (minimum two nights), and expenses. Travel grants are open to graduate students, early career researchers, policy officers, and elected officials.
Application deadline: Friday, June 5, 2026
Submit a 1,000-word extended abstract with CV (2 pages maximum) to japansborders@gmail.com
Successful applicants must submit a complete draft paper (minimum 5,000 words) by Friday, October 16, 2026.
Learn more: Contact japansborders@gmail.com
